Machine for combing broom-corn.



PATENTED'APR. 23, 1907 0. K. MILLER. MAGHINBPOR'GOMBING BROOM CORN.

2 SHEETS-$111331 1.

APPLICATION-FILED APR. 10. 1906.

, W1 TNESSES:

INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y5 THE NORRIS FE7ERS cu, wAsuluofuN, n. c

No. 851,202. PATENTED APR. 23, 1907';

0. K. MILLER,

MACHINE FOR GOMBING BROOM CORN.

APPLICATION FILED APE.10. 1906.

I 2 SHEETS-$112M 2.

W l-TNESSES: VI1VVENTOR.

. A TTORNE 1/5 CHARLES K. MILLER, OF ALVA, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

MACHINE FOR COMBING BROOM-CORN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23, 1907.

Application filed April 10. 1906. Serial No. 311,013.

.To all whom iri may concern.-

Be it known that I, CnARLEs K. MILLER, a' citizen of the United States, residing at Alva, in the county of Needs and Territory of Oklahoma, have invented a new andv useful Machine for Combing Broom-Corn, of which. the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for combing broom corn, and its object is to provide compact, portable mechanism of this character having novel means for bundling corn and feeding it to combing cylinders after which it is automatically discharged from the machine.

A still further object is to provide mechanism whereby dirt, seeds, etc. removed from the corn during the combing operation can be d ischarged from the machine.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of a suitable portable frame or body on. which is arranged an inclined table having an endless conveyor thereon which is adapted to carry the corn into the path of a feed wheel of novel con.- struction. This wheel overlaps the table and has parallel series of teeth depending from its rim. or periphery, and a supporting rail is disposed between these tw' series of teeth and extends partly around the wheel. Arranged upon the body of the machine adjacent the upper end of the table, are combbig-cylinders having teeth so disposed thereon as to strip seeds, dirt, etc. tl'ierefrom without injuring the fiber of the corn. The supporting rail, which extends under the wheel has its ends downwardly inclined so that the corn can be readily fed thereon and upward into engagement with the teeth andv can, after leaving the combing cylinders, move downward out of engagement with. teeth so as to be discharged from the machine. A fan is disposed adjacent the combing cylinders for the purpose of removing therefrom any material which may be stripped from the corn.

The invention also consists of certain novel features of construction and combination. of

parts which will be hereinafter more fully dethe feed wheel; Fig. 5 is anelevation of the mechanism adjacent one end of the combing cylinders; and Fig. 6 is asection through the supporting rail and a part of the feed wheel.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 and 2 are the front and rear axles, respectively, of the machine, said front axle supporting the forward. portion of a frame formed of side beams 3 and cross beams 4. The rear portion of the frame is mounted on short uprights 5 which extend upward from side beams 6 located on the rear axle 2, and standards 7 are also secured. upon the side beams 3 to support an upper or top frame consisting of side beams S and end beams 9. This top frame is only disposed above the rear portion of the machine, and journaled in the inner end of the frame are two combing cylinders 10 and 11. arranged one above the other and provided upon their working faces with curved teeth 12.

The teeth of the two cylinders are adapted to contact at the pass between the cylinders and are curved away from the direction of travel so that they will not injure the fibers of the corn while being acted on by the teeth. The upper cylinder 10 is mounted. on and rotates with a shaft 12 having a large gear 13 at one end. which surrounds a smaller beveled gear 14. The gear 13 meshes with a gear 15 similar thereto and. secured. upon one end of a shaft 16 which extends through the lower cylinder 11 androtates therewith. A small bevel gear 1.7 is arranged concentrically within the gear 15.

A longitudinally arranged beam 18 is mounted above the body of the machine and extends from the upper rear frame 8-9 to the front end of the body, and this beam 18 has a bearing box 19 thereon in which is journaled the upper end of a vertical shaft 20, the lower end of which is suitably mounted in a bearing 21 located upon the body of the machine. Collars 22 are slidaloly mounted on the shaft adjacent its ends and are adjustably connected by means of long bolts 23 having nuts 24 thereon, w iereby the collars can be moved toward each other as desired. A circular rim 25 extends around the shaft and is connected to the collars 22 by means of spokes 26 which radiate from said collars. Itwill be obvious that by adjusting the collars toward each other these spokes can be spread. radially to tighten the rim. A coiled. spring 27 is mounted on the shaft 20 between the upper collar 22 and the bearing box 19, and

this spring constitutes a resilient means for exerting a constant downward pressure upon the entire wheel formed by the rim 25, spokes 26 and collars 22. Teeth 28 are arranged upon the upper edge of the rim and are adapted to mesh with a gear 29 secured to one end of a shaft 30 which is arranged diagonally upon the frame of the machine and is j ournaled at one end in a standard 31 and at its other end upon a cross strip 32 connecting parallel beams 33 which extend diagonally across the machine and are fastened at one end to the beam 18 and at the other end to the upper part of the standard 31. A large gear 34 is secured to the shaft 30 and meshes with the bevel gear -14 on the shaft 12 of the combing cylinder 10.

Extending downward from the inner surface of the rim 25 is a series of teeth 35which are preferably fastened to the rim by means of bolts 36 extending therethrough. Another series of teeth 37 is similarly secured to the lower face of the rim 25, and the two series of teeth 35 and 37 are arranged substantially parallel or concentric, there being a sufficient space between them to receive a supporting rail 38. This rail is secured upon a platform 39 located upon the body of the machine between its forward end and the combing cylinders and is fastened to said platform preferably by means of angular brackets 39 which are bolted to both of the sides of the supporting rail and to the platform. This supporting rail extends between the series of teeth for about one-half the circumference of the rim and its ends 40 incline gradually downward so that material placed upon one end can be readily moved therealong and will gradually rise into engagement with the teeth of the feed wheel and will be carried thereby along the rail until the m ate rial assumes a position upon the other downwardly-extending end, whereupon it will drop out of engagement with the teeth.

The receiving end of the rail 38 is located adjacent one side of the platform 39 and between endless chains 41, which are mounted on sprockets 42 and 43 extending through the platform. The sprockets 42 are disposed adjacent the front end of the machine and may be loosely mounted while the sprockets 43 are secured to a shaft 44 having a large gear 45 at one end which meshes with the gear 17 on the shaft 16. The platform 39 extends at an angle to the longitudinal center of the machine so that the conveyer chains 41 will feed material from one corner of said. frame and toward the longitudinal center thereof. A fan casing 46 is located within the machine in rear of the pass between the combing cylinders and has a fan 47 therein, said fan rotating with a shaft 48 on which is secured a gear 49. This gear meshes with a gear 50 on a shaft 5O having a gear 5O which receives its power through a gear 51 from a gear 51 secured to one end of the shaft 16 of the lower cylinder 11. An outlet spout 52 extends from the fan casing and rearwardly from the frame of the machine for the purpose of discharging any material which maybe sucked into the casing by the fan.

It will be noted that the teeth of the two series depending from the rim 25 are alternately disposed so that a firm binding action may thus be produced by the teeth upon the broom corn engaged by them. It is also to be noted that that portion of the rail 38 nearest the combing cylinders 10 and 11 is disposed nearer the rim 25 of the'wheel than are the other portions thereof. It is therefore apparent that as the bunches of corn are conveyed along the rail 38 by the teeth on the feed Wheel they will be held with greater pressure while acted upon by the combing cylinders than at any other time during their passage along the rail.

When it is desired to comb broom corn by means of this mechanism, the same is set in motion by any suitable means, power being preferably applied thereto through a pulley 53 secured to and rotatable with the gear 50. Said gear 50 will, therefore, cause the combing cylinder 11 to rotate, and motion will be transmitted from said cylinder through its gear 15 to gear 13 and the upper combing cylinder 10. Gears 14 and 17 will also rotate the diagonally-disposed gears 34 and 45, respectively, and as gear 29 rotates With gear 34, the large feed wheel will thus be rotated. Sprockets 43 will rotate with the gear 45 and the conveyer chains 41 will thus move along the platform 39 and toward the supporting rail 38, and the feed wheel. After the mechanism has been set in motion the broom corn is placed on conveyer chains and is carried thereby over the receiving end of the supporting rail 38 and into the path of the depending teeth on the rim 25. successively engage the corn and separate it into bundles which are slid over the rail 28 by the teeth and brought successively into the pass between the combing cylinders. While the corn is between these combing cylinders the teeth thereof will strip all seeds and dirt therefrom and discharge it in the direction of the fan casing 46. Throughout the combing operation the feed wheel continues to slide the bundles of corn along the rail 38, and after these bundles leave the cylinders they slide downward upon the discharge end. of the rail 38 and are-discharged preferably at the side of the machine.

In order to facilitate the removal of the bundles from engagement with the teeth, a downwardly-extending deflecting rod 54, is preferably located above and substantially parallel with the discharge end of the supporting rail so as to positively direct the bundles downward out of engagement with the teeth. The fan 47 is of course rotated by These teeth means of gear 49 and shaft 48 and. will suck the seeds, etc. into the casing 46 and discharge them through the spout .52. Should one or more bundles of corn of more than usual proportions be clamped between thesupporting rail 38 and the feed wheel, injury thereto will be prevented because the spring 27 on shaft 20 will allow a certain amount of vertical movement of the wheel and, therefore, undue clamping upon the bundles is prevented. The spring is, however, of surficient strength to cause the wheel to clamp upon the bundle with pressure enough to keep them from being pulled out of position by the teeth, of the combing cylinders.

WVhile I have shown and described a particular construction, of frame or body, it is of course obvious that any desired form may be utilized Moreover, it is my intention .to provide all of the mechanism with a cover adapted to extend over the entire body of the machine, but I have deemed it unnecessary to disclose such a cover in the present case.

What is claimed is 1. In a machine of the character described the combination with combing cylinders; of a wheel rotatably mounted adjacent the cylinders, a series of teeth depending from the rim of the wheel for conveying material to the cylinders, and a rigid supporting rail overlapped by the teeth for holding the material in engagement with the teeth during the combing operation, said rail having deflected ends.

2. In a machine of the character described the combination with combing cylinders; of a wheel rotatably mounted adjacent said cylin ders, a series of teeth depending from one side of the rim of the wheel for conveying material to the cylinders said teeth being disposed at an angle to the plane occupied by the wheel, and a rigid supporting device adj acent to and overlapped by said teeth, the material being adapted to be wedged between the teeth and supporting device during the combing operation, said device having deflected ends.

3. In a machine of the character described the combination with combing means; of a rotatable wheel adjacent thereto, 'a series of teeth extending from one side of the periphery of, the wheel for engaging the material and feeding it to the combing means said teeth being disposed at an angle to the plane of the wheel, and a rigid supporting rail adjacent to and overlapped by the teeth and diverging therefrom and extending down ward at its ends.

4. In a machine of the character described the combination with combing means, and a conveyor for conducting material in the direction of said means; of a wheel rotatably mounted between the conveyor and combing means, a series of teeth depending from one side of the rim of the wheel and movable in a plane substantially parallel with the conveyor, and the ends of the teeth being disposed in parallel planes, and means overlapped by the teeth for directing material from the conveyor into the path of the teeth and for holding said. material in engagement with the teeth.

. 5. In a machine of the character described the combination with combing means, and a conveyor for conducting material in the direction of said. means; of a wheel rotatably mounted between the conveyor and combing means, a series of teeth depending from one side of the rim of thewheel and movable in a plane substantially parallel with the conveyor, the ends of the teeth being disposed in a plane parallel with the plane of the wheel and means interposed between and overlapped by the teeth for directing material from the conveyor into the path of the teeth and for holding said material in engagement with the teeth.

6. In a machine of the character described the combination with combing means, and a conveyor for conducting material in the direction of said. means; of a wheel rotatably mounted between the conveyor and combing means, a series of teeth depending from one side of the rim of the wheel and above, and

movable in a plane substantially parallel with the conveyor the ends of the teeth being disposed in a plane removed from andv parallel with the plane of the wheel, and means overlapped by the teeth for directing material from the conveyor into the path of the teeth and for holding said material in engagement with the teeth throughout a portion of their movement.

7. In a machine of the character described the combination with combing means, and a conveyor for conducting the material in the direction of saidmeans of a wheel rotatably mounted between the conveyor and combing means, a series of teeth depending from one side of the rim of the wheel and above, and movable in a plane substantially parallel with the conveyor the ends of the teeth being disposed in a plane removed from and parallel withthe plane of the wheel, means overlapped by the teeth for conveying material from the conveyor into the path of the teeth and for holding said material in engagement with the teeth throughout a portion of their movement, and means for deflecting the material to disengage it from the teeth.

8. In. a machine of the character described the combination with combing means, and a conveyor for conducting material in the direction of said. means; of a rotatable wheel, concentric series of teeth depending from one side of the rim of the wheel and above and movable in a plane substantially parallel with the conveyor the ends of the teeth being disposed in a plane removed from and parallel with the plane of the wheel, means in &

terposed between and overlapped by said series of teeth for directing material from the conveyor into the path of the teeth and for holding said material in engagement with the teeth, and means for deflecting material from engagement with the teeth.

9. In a machine of the character described the combination with combing means, and a conveyor; of a rotatable wheel, concentric series of teeth depending from one side of the rim of the wheel and extending over the conveyor and substantially parallel therewith the ends of the teeth being disposed in a plane removed from and parallel with the plane of the wheel, and a supporting rail for directing material from the conveyor into the path of the teeth and to retain it in engagement with said teeth throughout a portion of their movement.

10. In a machine of the character described the combination with combing means, and a conveyor; of a rotatable Wheel, teeth depending from one side of the rim of the wheel and adapted to travel over the conveyor in a plane substantially parallel therewith the ends of the teeth being disposed in a plane removed from and parallel with the plane of the wheel, and a rail overlapped by the teeth for directing material from the conveyor into engagement with the teeth and for holding said material in engagement with the teeth while acted upon by the combing means.

1 1. In a machine of the character described the combination with combing means, and a conveyor; of a rotatable wheel, teeth depending from the rim of the Wheel and adapted to travel over the conveyor in a plane substantially parallel therewith, a rail having inclined ends and adapted to direct material from the conveyor into engagement with the teeth and to support material in engagement with said teeth during the combing operation, said rail being overlapped by the teeth.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination with combing means and a conveyer, of a wheel rotatably mounted above and overlapping the conveyer, concentric series of teeth depending from the wheel, and a supporting rail interposed between a portion of said series and having depending ends, one of said ends adapted to receive material from the conveyer.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination with combing means and. a conveyer, of a wheel rotatable above and overlapping the conveyer, concentric series of alternately disposed teeth depending from the wheel, a supporting rail ex tending between said series and partly around the wheel the ends of said rail extending downward, one of said ends being adapted to receive material from the conveyer, and a deflector for disengaging material from the teeth during the rotation of the wheel.

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination with combing means and a conveyer, of a spring-pressed Wheel rotatably mounted above and overlapping the conveyer, concentric series of teeth depending from the rim of. the wheel, the teeth of the two series being alternately disposed, a supporting rail extending partly around the wheel and between the teeth of the two series, the ends of said rail extending downwardly and one end adapted to receive material from the conveyer.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination with combing means, of a rotatable wheel, concentric series of teeth depending from the rim of the 'wheel, a supporting rail partly surrounding the wheel and disposed between the series of teeth the ends of the rail extending downward and one end adapted to receive material and direct it into the path of the teeth.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with combing means, of a vertical shaft, collars mounted on the shaft and adj ustably connected, a rim surrounding the shaft, spokes connecting said rim and the adj ustable collars, and concentric series of teeth depending from the rim and adapted to convey material to the combing means.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination with combing means, and a gear operated by said means, of a rotatable wheel having a toothed rim engaging said gear, teeth depending from the wheel for conducting material to the combing means, and a supporting rail extending beyond the teeth and adapted to direct material into the path thereof and holdit in engagement therewith.

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination with combing means, and a gear operated by said means, of a rotatable wheel having a toothed rim engaging said gear, teeth depending from the wheel for conducting material to the combing means, a conveyer, and a supporting rail overlapped by and extending beyond the teeth and adapted to receive material from the conveyer and direct it into the path of the teeth.

19. In a machine of the character described, the combination with combing cylinders, and gears rotatable therewith, of a rotatable feed wheel having a toothed rim, a drive gear meshing With said teeth, means operated by one of the gears on one of the combing cylinders for rotating the drive gear, and teeth depending from the teeth for conveying material to the combing cylinders.

20. In a machine of the character described, the combination with combing cylinders, meshing gears rotatable therewith, and shafts rotatable with said gears; of a conveyer operated by one of the shafts, a wheel operated by the other shaft, and teeth depending from said wheelandadapted to con- Key material to the pass between the cyliners. 7 21. In a machine of the class described, the combination with combing means; of afeed Wheel comprising a shaft, collars adjustably mounted thereon, a rim connected to the collars, and concentric series of teeth disposed upon the rim.

22. In a machine of the character described, the combination of combing means; of a feed Wheel comprising a shaft, adjustably connected spring-pressed collars mounted upon the shaft, a rim surrounding and connected to the collars, and concentric series of teeth detachably connected to the rim.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses:

CHARLES K. MILLER. Witnesses J NO. W. WHITE, N. RAIBOURN. 

